Fence making machine



Nov. 29, 1938.

v. JOHNSON FENCE MAKING MACHINE Filed June28, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 29, 1938. v L. JOHNSON 7 2,138,173

FENCE MAKING MACHINE Fild June 28, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 29, 1938. v L, JOHNSON 2,138,173

FENCE MAKING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 29, 1938. v L. JOHNSON FENCE MAKING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 29, 1938 v. JOHNSON FENCE MAKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet" 5 Filed June'a, 1957 Nov. 29, 1938.

v. L. JOHNSON 2,138,173

FENCE MAKING MACHINE Filed June28, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE FENCE MAKING Vernie L. ohnson, Wyoming, Application June 28, 1937, Serial N 150,s00 14 Claims. (01. 14o s2 This invention relates to a machine for making fence of the type in which a multiplicity of pickets are interwoven with wires.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine of this class with novel means for twisting the wires between the picketswhereby the power is applied more directly to the twisting members and greater speed may be attained than with the mechanisms heretofore provided for this purpose. 7

Another object is to provide a machine of this class with novel and more eflicient means for automatically stopping the machine whenever a picket is not fed to proper position relative to the twisting mechanism;

Other objects will appear and be more fully pointed out in the following specification and claims. 1

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved machine with a portion of the housing for thetwisting mechanism broken away;

Fig. '2 .is a longitudinal section taken onithe line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sections taken on the lines 33 and 4--4 of Fig. 2; I i

Fig. 5 is a detail, partially in vertical section, showing one of the wire twisting units;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation with part of the frame broken away and showing particularly the driving connections for the automatic stop device and fence moving mechanism;

' Fig. 7 is a vertical section through a portion of the stop mechanism; a

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 and showing additional portions of the stop mechanism in side elevation;

Fig. 9 is a detail, plan viewshowing a portion of the stop mechanism, and

Fig. 10 is a detail, sideelevation of one of the twisting heads, with one of the bearings shown in vertical section.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the fence formed by my machine comprises a multiplicity of pickets H extending in parallel, spaced relation to each other and'bound together by wires l2 which are twisted together in the spaces between pickets. The number of pairs of wires employed may be varied, but it is common practice to protrated. The wires are preferably fed from overhead rolls and are guided in pairs around feeding wheels [3 (Figs. 1 and 2) whence they pass horizontally into axial passages 14 formed 'in shafts l5 and emerge from twisting heads it which are fixed on the shafts I5. As best shown in Fig. 10 each of the twisting heads is generally U-shaped to afford an opening I! into which the pickets II are fed.

threaded-between the pairs of wires the fence wires.

Twisting mechanism twisting of the wires is accomplished-by turning the shafts l5 alternately inclockwise and counter-clockwise directions, a picket being after each of the success'ive twisting operations. 'The shafts 15 extend injparallel relation to each other in a housing I18,andanti-friction[bearings are provided'for each shaft near its ends. The exterior surface of"each shaft is screw threaded with a doublethread, indicated by the numeral l9, and pins .engage the threads respectively at diametrically cpposite'points on theperiphery of the shaft toimpart rotary'motion to the shaft.

The pins 20 are fixed in bearing blocks 2| which are severallysecured to a crossihead or carriage member 22 extending across the .machine and having its ends fastened to blocks 23 respectively. Crank pins 24 are integral with the blocks 'ZS andpr'oject from the housing 18. The blocks '23 are guided for straight line, reciprocating movement by rods 25 which are fixed at their endsin the housing l8; The housing l8 and its contents are supported on main frame members 26 and 21 0f the machine. "At opposite sides of the housing, connecting rods 28 are joined to the pins 24 respectively andare arranged to be operated by cranks 29 fixed on the ends respectively of af horizontalshaft 30; 7

By the described mechanism rotation of the s'ha'fttfl is caused to impart reciprocating movement', longitudinalh 'ofthe shafts l5,'to the car- 'riage member carrying the blocks'23 and pins 20.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the threads l9 formed on each shaft-'15 terminate in straight portions l9awhich extend-longitudinally of the shaft.

-The' pins 2fl move 'in-these straight portions I90. to holdthe shafts JSagainst'turhing during a substantial portionof the cycle of operation. By this arrangementl cause the shafts l5- to dwell in proper-position to receive the' pickets' in the openings ll of the twisting heads 46 for a sufficient period of time ateach end of the stroke of the member 22. In the machine illustrated, each of the threads l9 makes two and one-half com- "plete revolutions, spirally around the shaft l5 vide five pairs for a fence of this type, as illus-- extending parallelfitothe shafts 3| and 34 and arranged to be driven by power applied to a pulley 36. The gear ratio is such that the shaft is driven at half the speed of the shaft and the latter makes one revolution for each picket that is woven into the fence.

The threaded shafts l5 and turning mechanism therefor are fully and properly lubricated at all times and, being enclosed in the housing [8, are efiiciently protected against such friction as is commonly caused by deposits of grit and other foreign matter on the bearing surfaces in other machines of this class. By my screw threaded arrangement of these shafts and cross head for turning them and causing them to dwell in the picket receiving positions, power is applied more directly to each shaft than in other twisting mechanisms known to me. As a result of these features the entire machine may be speeded up so that the rate of making the fence is substantially increased.

Picket feeding mechanism Mechanisms for feeding pickets to a machine of this class are well known in this art and are described herein only as a desirable accessory to the improvements claimed herein. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, a table 31 is arranged at one side of the main frame of the machine to receive bundles of pickets and a pair of endless chains 38 are arranged on this table to advance the pickets successively and edgewise .into the bite of feeding wheels 39 and 40. The wheel 39 has a knurled or otherwise roughened periphery which engages the pickets and is continuously driven by power supplied by a small electric motor 4| transmitted through belts 42 and 43 guided on suitable pulleys, one of which is fixed on a shaft 39a driving the wheel 39. The wheel is freely revoluble on an arm 44 pivotally supported on a pin 45 and arranged to be actuated by a cam 46 engaging a roller 41 mounted on the arm 44. The cam 46 is fixed on an end of a shaft 48 which, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, is rotated through a chain 49 and suitable sprocket wheels 50 and 5|, the latter sprocket wheel being secured to the main drive shaft 35.

From the wheel 39 the pickets are fed longitudinally into the openings l! in the twisting heads, being carried along the desired path by wheels 52 and 53 which are powerdriven by the motor 4! through the belt 42 and a belt 54. Spring' pressed wheels 55 are arranged to press the pickets upward into engagement with the'lower peripheries respectively of the wheels 52 and 53. Bythis mechanism each of the successive pickets is advanced longitudinally until its leading end strikes a movable head 56 of my improved mechanism for automatically stopping the machine in the event that a picket is not fully and properly fed into the machine.

Automatic stop mechanism This mechanism guards against the manufacture of fence which is defective by reason of nonuniformity in the positions of the pickets or containing pickets which are broken or shorter than the others. As best shown in Figs. 1 and fl, the head 56 is mounted on a housing 57 which is secured to the main frame member 27 in such position that the head 56 is struck by the successive pickets when they are fully and properly fed into the machine. The head 56 is" movable in the housing 51 and is connected to a short shaft 58 in the same housing in such manner that the shaft is free to turn independently of the head A dog 64 is'mounted in the housing 51 on a pivot pin 65 and is arranged to be normally held by a spring 66 in the path of the lug 59 when the latter is moved longitudinally or to the left as seen in Fig. 7. This dog is formed to engage the lug 59 and momentarily retard its return to'the right. Fixed on the outer end of the shaft 58 is a sprocket '61 adapted to be continuously driven in timed relation to the shaft 48 through a chain 68 and sprocket wheel 69 secured to the shaft 48 (Figs. 4 and 6). This driving mechanism rotates the shaft 58 one complete revolution for each picket that is woven into the fence.

The arm 63 is arranged to control a clutch 10 which is interposed between the main drive pulley 36 and the shaft 35. As best shown in Fig. 3, a

clutch operating lever H projects downward from the clutch and is pivoted on a bracket 12 secured to the frame member 21. Joined to the lower end of the lever H is a link 18 extending across the machine in parallel relation to the shaft 35 and arranged to be actuated by a lever 74. This lever is pivoted on a bracket 15 at its lower end and its upper or free end may be manipulated to operate I the clutch manually. The lever 14 is also arranged to be actuated by a spring-pressed rod 16 extending horizontally across the machine above the shaft 35, this rod being movable longitudinally in a fixed bearing 11. An end of the rod 16 projects laterally to engage the outer edge of the lever 14 and a compression spring 18 is coiled on the rod and confined between the bearing 11 and a collar 19 fixed on the rod. This spring 18 urges the rod '16 to the right as seen in Fig. 3. Toggle members 88 and 8| are connected to an end of the rod 16 which projects at the outer face of the frame member 21. As shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9, one end of the member 8| is pivotally connected to the projecting end of the rod 16 and the other end of this toggle member is joined to the second toggle member 88. The latter has its outer end pivotally secured to a bracket 82 projecting from the frame member 21. A rod 83 is secured to the toggle member 8| and extends to the arm 63 to which it is joined in such a manner that when the finger 6| is actuated by the mg 59 on the shaft 58 the rod 83 is drawn to the left, as seen in Figs. 8 and 9, to draw the toggle members 80 and 8| out of alignment with each other and with the rod 16. This releases the rod 76 so that the latter under the force exerted by the spring 18 actuates the lever 14 to release the clutch.

As best shown in Fig. 9, a screw 81a is threaded in the toggle member 8| near its junction with and toggle respectively.

To insure immediate stopping of the machine when the clutch is disengaged from the pulley 3'62 lfprovide' a-brake memben8l whichzis keyed to the shaft 35' but movable longitudinally thereon to-engage afixed'brakemember secured to the framemember 26; The brakemember 84 is actuated by a lever illi which is-pivoted=-.on a-bracket 8Tand connected to the ro'dlB, as best shown in Fig. 32

In operation the shaft. 58 is driven in timed rel'ationtothe pi'cket'feedihg mechanism andas the successive pickets strike the head 56 they actuate the shaft 58 and lug 59 to such position that the lug passes thefinger 6| and iscaught by the dog 64'; Thisdogfl guidesthe lug 59 to-one side of" the finger 61 until the latter has been passed. Upon failure of a pi'cket to strike thehead 56 attheproper time; the rotatinglug 58 actuates finger BI and, through theshaftfiziarm 63 and rod 83; pulls the toggle" members 80 and 8| out of'their aligned position shown in Fig; 9. When this occurs the spring Til actuates the rod 16 to release the clutch and apply the brake simultaneously, thereby stopping the machine. Now the defective or improperly positioned picket which'caused the stop-may be removed from the twisting headsand' replaced or adjusted and the machine may bestarted by actuating the lever: 14 to-compressthe spring'T8 and return the toggle memhers afl'and ii'lto their aligned position. This simultaneously releases-the brake and applies the power to the shaft 35 through the clutch 18*.

the machineoperatesat high speed, the pickets have substantial' momentum as they strike the head" 56 andhave a tendency to rebound therefrom. Such rebound; in the absence ofthedog 64, would cause the shaft 58 to-follow, with the result thatthe lug- 59 would strike the finger 61- and thereby stop the machine even though the picket were properli delivered against the head 55 The cam groove 60 'p0sitively restores the shaft 58 to its normal positioninthe plane of thefinger 6i during that portion of each cycle of operation when a picket is being fed into-the-twist-ihg heads l6.

Fence delivcry. mechanism After picket-hasbeen fed into the openings II inthe twisting heads IE it is ejected therefrom, edgewise, by a plurality of. arms 88 which project upward between the twisting heads l6 and are pivotallymounted on a horizontal shaft 89 (see l-, 2, 4- and' 6) To actuate the arms88', I provide .a series-of cams fl secured totheshaft 35 and arranged to engage rollers' 9+ mounted on rods- 92. One end of each of the rods 92 is pivotally secured to one of the arms 88 and the are severally slidable in bearings in angle bars 93 extending across the-machine; and supported on th'e'main frame members 26 and" 21-. A coiled spring 94 is confined'on each of 'the'rods 9'2 and abuts-against oneof the bars 93't0 retain the roller 9| in engagement with the periphery of the cam- 90. These cams actuate the'arms 88 simultaneously to remove the-successive pickets from the twisting heads in proper timed relation to the twisting operation which immediately follows.

As hereinbefore described; the shafts I5 are rotated" to: twist the" pairs of wires between adjac'entpickets and therebyform the fence. As shown in Fig. 2, the continuous fence thus formed passes over toothed wheels 95. These wheels are mounted on a horizontal shaft 96 whichmay be turnedin proper timed relation to the other mechanisms by any suitable means. As shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the shaft 96 may beturn'ed by ratchet mechanism including a dog 91 mounted on one of thearms 88 and arranged to'actuate-a sprocket wheel 98 fixed on the shaft 96. From the periphery-ofthe toothed wheels the fence passesdown beneath the lower peripheries of guide wheels 99 and thence to a reel (not shown) offany suitable or well known construction- I Having describedi my invention, what I claim as new and: desire to protect byLetters Patent is:

l.. A fencemakingmachin'e comprising, a plurality of spaced, parallel shafts, wire twisting heads mounted on saidshafts means for feeding to each: of said. heads a pair of wires to be twisted, threads formed: on said shafts, a. carriage' movable longitudinally of said shafts adjacent tothe same, means: on: said carriage severally engaging the threads on said shafts and power-driven. means for imparting reciprocating. movement to saidcarriage to simultaneously turnv said shafts.

2. A fenceimakingmachine comprising, a pluality of spaced, parallel shafts, a wire twisting headmountedion anend of each of said shafts, passagesfori pairs of wires to be twisted extending' longitudinally through said shafts, threads formed on the peripheries of said shafts, a car'- riage movable. longitudinally of said shafts, means mounted: on said carriage to engage the threads on each of! said'lshafts to turn the same and power-driven means for imparting reciprocating movement. to said: carriage longitudinally of said shafts. I

3. A fence; makingmachine comprising, means for feeding pickets and wires thereto, a: plurality of spaced, parallel shafts, wire twisting heads mounted-on said shafts andeach engaging a pair of said wires, threads formed-onsaid shafts, a carriage movable' longitudinally of said shafts adjacent to the same,. means on said carriage severally engaging thev threads on said shafts and power-driven -means for imparting reciprocating movement to said: carriage to simultaneously-turn said: shafts and twist said wires between pickets.-

A. fence making machine comprising, a plurality of spaced, parallel shafts, a wire twisting head secured to-ea'ch of: said shafts, means for feeding wires and. pickets to said heads, threads formed on said shafts, a carriage movable longitudinally of said shafts, means on said carriage severally engaging the threads on said shafts, for turning the same, means for moving pickets away from said heads and powerdriven means for imparting reciprocating movement to said carriage to simultaneously turn said shafts and thereby bind the pickets together in a fence with thewires.

5 A? fence making machine comprisinga plurality of spaced, parallel shafts, a wire twisting head secured toeach of said shafts, means'for feeding wires and pickets to said heads, threads formedon said shafts, each of said threads havihg a helical portion and a straight portion extending longitudinally of a shaft, a carriage movable longitudinally o-f said shafts, means on said carriage severally engaging the threads on said shafts and power driven means for imparthead secured to each ofsaid shafts, means for feeding wires and pickets tosaid heads, threads formed on said shafts, each of said: threads having a helical portion and a straight portion extending longitudinally of a shaft, a cross head movable longitudinally of said shafts, bearing blocks secured to said cross head and embracing said shafts respectively, a thread-engaging member projecting from each of said blocks and power-driven means for imparting reciprocating movement to said cross head to simultaneously turn said shafts, the several shafts being caused to dwell in picket-receiving position by movement of said thread-engaging means in the straight portions of the threads.

'7. A fence making machine comprising, a plurality of spaced, parallel shafts, a wire twisting head mounted on each of said shafts, means for feeding wires and pickets to said heads, threads formed on said shafts, each of said threads having straight end portions extending longitudinally of a shaft'and an intermediate helical portion connecting said straight portions, a carriage movable longitudinally of said shafts, means on said carriage severally engaging the threads on said shafts and power-driven means for imparting reciprocating movement to said carriage to simultaneously turn said shafts, the several shafts being held in picket-receiving position by movement of said. thread-engaging means in said straight portions of the threads.

8. A fence making machine comprising, means for feeding pickets longitudinally into the machine, means for feeding and twisting wires between adjacent pickets, means for actuating the pickets away from said twisting means and automatic means for stopping the machine when a picket is improperly fed thereto comprising, a clutch arranged to control said picket feeding and actuating means and wire twisting and feeding means, a toggle joint for controlling said clutch, power-driven, rotary trip mechanism for said toggle joint and means movable by an end of a properly fed picket to render said trip mechanism inoperative.

9. A fence making machine comprising, means for feeding pickets and wires into the machine, means for twisting wires between pickets, means for actuating the pickets away from said twisting means and automatic means for stopping the machine when a picket is improperly fed thereto comprising, a clutch arranged to control said feeding, twisting and picket-actuating means, means for actuating said clutch, a power-driven, rotary and longitudinally movable shaft and trip mechanism for controlling said clutch-operating mechanism and operable by said shaft, said shaft being disposed in alignment with the pickets and being movable longitudinally thereby to render said trip mechanism inoperative when a picket is properly fed into the machine.

10. A fence making machine comprising, means for feeding pickets and wires into the machine, means for twisting wires between pickets, means for actuating the pickets away from said twisting means and automatic means for stopping the machine when a picket is improperly fed thereto comprising, "a clutch arranged to control said feeding, twisting and picket-actuating means, means for actuating said clutch, a power-driven, rotary and longitudinally'movable shaft, trip mechanism for controlling said clutch operating mechanism and thereto comprising, a clutch for controlling the operation of the machine, meansfor actuating said clutch to stopthefmachine, a toggle joint operable by said shaft, and means disposed in the path of the pickets and connected to said-shaft for moving the same longitudinally and thereby render said trip mechanism inoperative when a picket is properly fed into the machine.

11. In a machine of the class described the combination with means for feeding pickets into the machine, of means for automatically stopping the machine when a picket is improperly fed arranged to control said clutch operating means, a power-driven shaft =mounted for rotary and longitudinal movement, a lug projecting from 15 said shaft, trip mechanismnormally extending into the path of said lug to be operated thereby and means connecting said trip mechanism to said toggle joint fordisengaging said clutch, said shaft being operable by a picket longitudinally to cause said lug to pass said trip mechanism, when a picket is properly fedintoathe machine.

12. In a machine of the class described the combination with means for feeding pickets into the machine, ofmeans forautomatically stopping the machine when a picket isimproperly. fed

thereto comprising, a clutchfor controlling the operation of the machine, spring-pressed means for disengaging said clutch to stop the machine, 3 0

tudinally to cause, said lug to pass said trip 40 mechanism when a picket is properly fed into the machine.

13. A fence making machine comprising, means for feedingpickets into the machine, means for feeding-and twisting wires between pickets, meansfor; actuating the pickets, away from said twisting means, a clutch arranged to be disengaged to stop the machine, a spring tending to disengage-said clutch, a toggle joint connected to said clutch and having pivotally joined members adapted to be straightened to retain said clutch in engaged position against said spring and means under control of the pickets for tripping saidtoggle joint to thereby disengage said clutch at a predetermined point in the cycle of operation. 5

14. A fence making machine comprising, means for feeding pickets into the machine, means for feeding and twisting wires between pickets, means for actuating the. pickets away from said twisting. means and means for auto matically stopping the machine when apicket is improperly fed into it comprising, a clutch. arranged to be disengaged to stop the machine, a spring for actuating said clutch to stop the machine, a toggle joint connected to said clutch and having pivotally joined members arranged to be straightened to retain said clutch in engaged position against said spring, power-driven trip mechanism for said toggle joint and means adapted to be engaged by properly fed pickets to render said trip mechanism inoperative.

'VERNIE L. JOHNSON. 

